Kitesurfing with a directional board is a constantly growing discipline that attracts more and more kiters. Many approach the surf driven by the passion for the waves, others attracted by the strapless freestyle maneuvers of extraterrestrials such as Airton, Mitu & Co., still others simply to try something new, after a certain stall in their progression with the twin tip.
Whatever your motivation, approaching a new discipline is undoubtedly a challenge. At the beginning you will encounter some difficulties and maybe for some outings you will feel like a beginner again, but in a short time, with a little perseverance, some tips and the right equipment you will be able to have fun.
In this article we decided to collect 10 tips in random order that we would like to give to those who approach the surf for the first time.
1: get a suitable board
Starting with the right board can simplify things a lot. But that doesn't mean you have to buy the latest model. Even an old used car will be fine, what matters are the measures. In principle you should look for a rather large board , beautiful bulky (okkio not to overdo it) and without too much rocker. As for the length, in recent years the trend has been towards its progressive reduction, even for beginners, up to the particular case of compact boards. The advantage of having a shorter board is that you need to move less with your feet to find the right balance upwind, while surfing, etc. Clearly the shorter length must be compensated for by the other sizes, so it is simply not worth choosing a smaller size!
And a surfboard can fit?
It certainly can be fine if it is of the right size and shape. Be careful though that a normal surfboard is not built to resist the stresses of kitesurfing (and I refer to the pressure of the feet to wind, not only to the jumps), so it is good to try but then the advice is to look for something more resistant.
2: Use a smaller kite, or depower it
If you have chosen a large enough surfboard you should be able to glide with a kite of a smaller size than you would normally use with your twitip. Going out with a smaller sail and little power at the beginning will not be easy. Many beginners when approaching surfino think that with that they will be able to glide even with lighter wind, with the same sail. This is true, but only for those who are already experienced enough and have acquired a good sensitivity towards walking with the directional board. The first few times, on the other hand, beginners peel less, but try to hold on and not solve the problem by using a larger kite. Switching to a larger kite does not help to correct the defect which usually consists of being too much with the weight on the back leg and with the tip of the board all out of the water. Have patience and insist on going slightly under-revealed, you will be forced to correct your posture to plan and wind.
3. Strap? A strap? No strap?
One of the first questions that anyone who wants to start with the executive board asks is always this: should I start with the straps or not? Many think that with straps it is easier to learn, but in reality it is not necessarily so. Until a few years ago it was customary to recommend using only one strap, the one on the front, to start, and then remove it once you have become more familiar. Generally, there was a tendency to keep it very wide, so as not to squeeze the foot but to rest on it only when necessary. It works and if you want you can try it, but personally we do not like this compromise very much because it is easy enough to get hurt in the ankle of the front foot, which easily risks remaining in the strap when you fall. So if you really don't want to do without it, mount them both,
In any case, trying without a strap is not much more difficult, just a little more complicated than starting at the beginning, but the advantage is to immediately acquire a better sensitivity on the board and greater freedom of movement. In addition, the jibe is simpler. So our advice is to start without a strap , obviously with a nice stable board and in the right conditions.
4. Paraffin or pad?
Behind it is obvious: the pad. But in the center and in the front? Surf purists will tell you that there is nothing better than paraffin in both seal and feel. It may also be, but in my opinion it is more a matter of habit. However, paraffin is rather boring. You must always hang it before going out, it often ends and you have to go out to give it back in the middle of an exit. Also on the beach you must always be careful that the sand doesn't stick to it. The pads are definitely more comfortable. Also now there are ultra thin ones that offer a really very surf style feeling and have an exceptional grip ... try it to believe it.
Remember, however, that in addition to the front and rear pads you will also need a pad, or at least some strips of non-slip grip, in the center.
5. Start in flat water
Yes ok, the surf is for the waves, but before going there it is better to get familiar with the board. Start on flat water , practice upwind and jibe and don't get close to the waves before being able to change direction quickly. Do you think it's not fun to use a surfboard on flat water? Well, take a look at some nice strapless freestyle videos and you will immediately change your mind. Obviously, however, before thinking about the jumps, perfect the basic maneuvers!
6. Work on the stance
In twintip the stance is constant. Once you have adjusted the pads you will not move them anymore. With the surfino it is not so, especially if you do not use the straps and therefore you are free to move on the board . To wind, you will need to bring the back foot closer to the front foot, while moving it away again to bend. For more radical carvings the rear foot must push right on the fins. This is one of the most difficult things in the beginning when it comes to the twin tip.
Clearly, not all boards need to be moved in the same way. Generally, on longer boards you have to move more, which is why at the beginning a board that is too long does not simplify things much, but in any case, over time, moving weights and consequently the feet becomes natural.
7. Practice surfing toeside and jibe
Once you master the pace and upwind, the time has come to practice a bit with the toeside and especially with the jibe. The jibe is actually easier to do than to say, but it is true that at the beginning it requires a bit of exercise. Try the movement on the ground, before in the water, to understand exactly where you have to put your feet. Regarding the jibe the advice I would like to give is not to learn it by jumping. When you are more experienced you can certainly do it, but learning the movement by taking the steps and without losing contact with the board will allow you to be more precise.
There are many videos you can watch to understand the technique. I chose one that I think is done very well:
8. Learn to overcome the waves
Now you are able to go, jibe, come back. If you feel confident enough it's time to approach the waves. Gradually approach the waves and in a spot safe . Choose a spot that is familiar to you to start and, before jumping headfirst on the waves, make sure that there are no obstacles downwind or that at the point where the waves break, there is enough water and possibly a sandy bottom. Needless to say, initially you will have to get close to very small waves.
The first thing you need to master well, even before trying to get off the waves, or to try top and bottom turns, is to pass them. If you surf then you will know that there are currents in the sea, channels to follow to get out and that the waves come in series. If you have no idea what I'm saying, stop to observe the sea and the waves before entering the water . You will see that the waves break more or less always in the same points, even on a sandy beach and that have a rhythm: they arrive at 3 or 5 at a time, then the sea seems to calm down for a moment and then it starts again. All this will be useful to understand where it is better to go and if it is appropriate to wait a moment before trying.
Getting over the waves without straps may seem really difficult at first, but with the right technique it becomes quite simple. The timing is critical. When you are in front of a wave you have to understand if it is going to break or not. If it is not going to break, you can simply pass it, paying attention only to the moment you pass the crest to slow down a bit, if you don't want to make a nice jump. If, on the other hand, the wave is about to break and you understand that you cannot make it through, slow down and wait for it to break in front of you. At that point pass on the foam. To overcome the foam push hard with your back foot , to hold the tip of the board up, once passed push with your front foot and continue upwind.
The direction of the wind also counts, and it is evident that in certain conditions it is easier to pass the waves, moreover you will certainly have a favorite front foot ... the key, however, is always to try.
9. What to do when the kite falls into the waves
When you do wave riding you must always pay close attention so that the kite does not fall into the waves, however it is evident that it happens anyway. Before this happens it is important to be prepared to face the situation, because it is undoubtedly one of the most delicate moments.
When the kite falls into the waves the first thing to do is obviously try to restart the sail before the next wave arrives. If for any reason this is not possible and you can't, you must be ready to drop the kite immediately . When a wave hits a kite it pulls it forward strongly while you are pulled forward and under water. So if you see a wave that hits the kite you take a breathand get ready to go underwater. If the waves are not too big or too powerful and you feel you are able to handle the situation, simply wait for the set to pass and try again to restart the kite. However, if the waves are really vigorous it might be better to unhook and free the kite from the pressure of the waves that seriously risk damaging it. Obviously it may be necessary to completely unhook. Do not think that in this way you will irreparably lose the sail, on the contrary, many times unhooking is the only way to save it . If there are no rocks downwind (and there shouldn't be any because you are NOT kitesurfing with leeward rocks, especially in the waves) but beach, the sail will come to the beach and stop there. You will retrieve it later and you can have fun untangling the cables!
In these cases be sure to keep at least the board with you , so that you can climb on it and row to the shore ... I know that with the hook of the trapeze it is not the best, but you can.
10. Leave twintip at home
If you really want to learn quickly, the best thing is to focus completely on the surf for a while. Using it just a little every now and then doesn't help you learn quickly. The best thing then is to leave the twintip at home, so you avoid the temptation to get some edge which then become the majority of the exit, because when you are a beginner with something the conditions are never ideal ... "too windy "," too little "," there is flat water, you might as well do some frestyle "and so on.
If you hold on for about ten exits, you will see that you will no longer be able to do without it!
Pubblicato il 12 novembre 2019 | Blog > Technique: KITESURF